MotoGP Japan GP: Preview

MotoGP heads to Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha’s backgarden for the Japan Grand Prix this weekend as Ducati Lenovo’s Francesco Bagnaia closes down Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo.

The Japanese round of the 2022 championship marks the second round within the sport’s triple header as just 17 points separate, championship leader, Quartararo from Bagnaia and Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro, who sits in third-place.

Quartararo failed to extend his championship lead in Aragon last time out as the championship leader crashed out in the early stages. However, the French rider will be looking to push on an rebuild his gap as the sport enters its final handful of races.

Fans, journalists and pundits would have expected the title to go to Quartararo but Bagnaia has shown his fighting spirit and brought himself back into clear contention for the title.

In the last 10 races, Bagnaia has won six of those races and Quartararo has only managed to secure two with Enea Bastianini securing the remaining two.

As it stands, Quartararo stands at the top of the standings with 211 points to his name. Only 10 points separate the leading Monster Energy Yahama rider from second-placed Bagnaia, with Aspargaro 17 points behind the leader.

At the moment, it looks as though the two riders – at the front of the standings – will put it all out on the table this weekend as the championship heat up in the dying embers of the season.

When is it on?

Friday –

Moto3 – Free Practice 1: 13:15 – 13:55 (05:15 – 05:55 BST)

Moto2 – Free Practice 1: 14:10 – 14:50 (06:10 – 06:50 BST)

MotoGP – Free Practice 1: 15:05 – 16:20 (07:05 – 08:20 BST)

Saturday –

Free Practice 2

Moto3 – Free Practice 2: 09:00 – 09:40 (01:00 – 01:40 BST)

Moto2 – Free Practice 2: 09:55 – 10:35 (01:55 – 02:35 BST)

MotoGP – Free Practice 2: 10:50 – 11:35 (02:50 – 03:35 BST)

Qualifying (Moto3 and Moto2)

Moto3 – Qualifying: 12:35 – 13:15 (04:35 – 05:15 BST)

• Quali 1: 12:35 – 12:50 (04:35 – 04:50 BST)
• Quali 2: 13:00 – 13:15 (05:00 – 05:15 BST)

Moto2 – Qualifying: 13:30 – 14:10 (05:30 – 06:10 BST)

• Quali 1: 13:30- 13:45 (05:30 – 05:45 BST)
• Quali 2: 13:55 – 14:10 (05:55 – 06:10 BST)

Free Practice 3 (MotoGP)

MotoGP – Free Practice 3: 14:25 – 14:55 (06:25 – 06:55 BST)

Qualifying (MotoGP)

MotoGP – Qualifying: 15:05 – 15:45 (07:05 – 07:45 BST)

• Quali 1: 15:05 – 15:20 (07:05 – 07:20 BST)
• Quali 2: 15:30 – 15:45 (07:30 – 07:45 BST)

Sunday –

Warm-Up

Moto 3 – Warm-Up: 10:00 – 10:10 (02:00 – 02:10 BST)

Moto2 – Warm-Up: 10:20 – 10:30 (02:20 – 02:30 BST)

MotoGP – Warm-Up: 10:40 – 11:00 (02:40 – 03:00 BST)

Race

Moto3 – Race: 12:00 (04:00 BST)

Moto2 – Race: 13:20 (05:20 BST)

MotoGP – Race: 15:00 (07:00 BST)

That’s it for the article: MotoGP Japan GP: Preview! Who will lead the championship at the end of the weeeknd? Let us know in the comments!

Read more MotoGP here:

• Moto2 AragonGP: Acosta heads all-Spanish podium
• Spanish Catalan Grand Prix: Celestino Vietti wins on last lap
• American Grand Prix: Tony Arbolino wins in crash filled race
• Argentinian Grand Prix: Sergio Garcia wins after final corner overtake
• Argentina Grand Prix: Qualifying Round-Up

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